Voting-machine.



Hl ORUGH.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. 23, I9I4.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED sTATEs i PATENT oEEioE.

HARRY 0. RUG-H, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 RAILWAY ELECTRIC IVIAIV'`FACTURING C0., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25', 1915.

Application filed. March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,777.

of which the following is a full, clear, con-l cise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specication.

My invention relates to electrical voting machines and has for itsobject the provision of an improved machine of this character andimproved circuit arrangements for machines of this type.

My invention contemplates the provision of means by virtue of which itis impossible to register votes for more than a predetermined number ofcandidates within a given class. For instance, there may be fourcandidates for mayor; it ofcourse 4would not be proper to vote for morethan one candidate at atime and my invention provides electricallycontrolled mechanism whereby but one candidate can be voted for at atime.

. My invention is also of such a character fthat it can be set to permitthe voting for say three candidates out of a total of more than thatnumber. The mechanism which accomplishes this result in the preferredform of my invention is the same whereby but one candidate of ya classmay be voted for or more than one, and thus involves the mereduplication of complete sets of apparatus depending upon the number ofclasses to be voted for. Thus the complete machine is divided into whatI might call sections, each section preferably accommodating undernormal circumstances one given class out yof which a predeterminednumber are to be selected.

I will describe in the accompanying drawing one such section of myimproved malchine and circuit arrangement, it being understood that theaddition of further classes of candidates or further sections of myinvention would under ordinary circumstances involve mere duplication.All the sections however could of course be operated through the agencyof a single source of current as will bereadily apparent from thestructure.

In the drawing I show diagrammatically one formof my improved machinewith the circuit arrangements therefor.

In the drawing herein I illustrate one section of my improved system, itbeing contemplated herein that out of two available candidates but onemay be voted for at a time, it being assumed possibly that the twocandidates might represent the Democratic and the Republican candidatesfor i mayor. This particular section of my improved system as hereindisclosed has two keys 1 and 2 respectively which may be chosen foroperation by the voter. Whenever key l is depressed it operates relay 3,andwhenever button 2 is depressed it operates the relay 4. The relays 3and 4 respectively have armatures 5, 6, and 7, 8. A coil controlledtotaling mechanism or counter 9 is provided for the relay 3 and asimilar device 10 is provided for the relay v4. Thus whenever an,impulse is transmitted throughthe coil of either device 9 or 10, thecounter carried therewith is moved one space. A central source ofcurrent 11 is provided whose association in the various subcircuits willappear throughout this description. Vhenever button 1 is operated, forinstance, a circuit is established from battery 11, through conductor12, spring 13, contact spring 14, conductor 15, conductor 16, lever 1,contact post 17, through indicating lamp 18 to the battery 11, thuscausing ignition of the lamp corresponding to the button depressed toapprise the votor of his selection. At the same time a parallel circuitextends from the contact post 17 by way of conductor 19 through relay 3,conductor 20, contact spring 21, c0ntact post 22, conductor 23, andconductor 24 to the battery 11. The relay 3 being energized attracts itsarmatures 5 and 6. The attraction of the armature 6 establishes acircuit which can be traced from the bat-` tery 11, through conductor12, springs 14, 13, conductor 15, conductor 25, conductor 26, armature6, relay 3, conductor 20, springs 21 and 22, conductor 23, and conductor24 to the other terminal of the battery 11. It will thus be seen thatthe relay 3 is locked in position even though the key or button 1 isreleased from its actuated position. The attraction of the armature 5connects one terminal of the coil of the counter 9 with a negativeterminal of the batteryll, this circuit being traced from the saidnegative terminal of said battery by way of conductors 24 and 23,contacts 22 and 21, conductor 20, armature 5, and conductor 27 to oneterminal of the coil 9. yThe other terminal of this coil, and in factall othercoils, is connected by meansl of the common conductor 28 with acontact element 29. This contact element 29 is carried by a swinginggate or similar device 30, which is operated when the voter leaves thebooth from its dotted position-to its full positionthereby connectingthe contact element 29 with the spring 13 and completing the circuitfrom the coil 9 by way of conductor 28, contact element 29, spring13,conductor 12, to the positive terminal of the battery 11. 1t will thusbe seen that the voter operates the button for the particular candidate,whereupon the selected relay locks itself in position, and at the sametime places its corresponding coil controlled counter in position tocount one vote for the selected candidate when the voter leaves thebooth. Thefmovement ofthe gate 30 from one positionto the other likewiseserves to break the contact between the springs 13 and 14 and establishcontact between thespring 13 and lthe contact spring 31. Breaking of thecontact between springs 13 and 14opens the path for the current flowingthrough the locked relay (relay 3 or relay 4) and thus causes therestoration of the selected relay to its unoperated position, normallythe position shown in the illustration.

It is of course essential that of the two candidates presented forIselection that the voting for one only be permitted each individualvoter. To that end my invention provides mechanism which makes itimpossible to place more than one counting element 9 or 10 in conditionfor operation at any given time and to accomplish this result I providea step-by-step element 32 preferably in the form of a part of a ratchetwheel which is pivoted at 33 and is normally retained against its limitstop 34 by a spring 35. This step-by-step element carries an arm 36 Xedto itself which is adapted to slide over various contact segments 37,38, 39, etc. A step up pawl 40 is provided which is normally inengagement with the teeth of the ratchet and this step up pawl iscarried by an armature 41 of a lcoil 42. This armature 41 is pivoted at43 and Withdrawn by a retractile spring- 44. Now whenever the -coil 42is energized it attracts its armature 41 and moves the step-by-stepelement 32 the distance of one notch where it is held by the holdingpawl 45. This holding pawl is carried by an armature 46 pivoted at 47.This holding pawl is normally in engagement with the teeth lof theratchet wheel 32. An insulating button 48 is carried by the holding pawlto prevent theholding pawl and the illustration.

step up pawl from coming into engagement, but this button 48 permits thestep up pawl to slide freely thereon. The armature 46 when attractedalso opens the circuit between springs 21 and 22 as is readily apparentfrom The armature 46 is controlled by the coil 49. Now whenever the coil49 is energized it attracts its armature 46, thereby raising the holding'pawl 45 and therewith also the step up pawl 40 out of engagement fromthe ratchet wheel 32, thus permitting this ratchet wheel to be restoredto normal against its stop 34. This step-bystep mechanism, as stated,prevents the active selection of more than one counter at a time.

Assuming, for instance, that button 1 has been operated, relay 3 beenenergized and the coil of counter 9 placed in a receptive condition,then this operation of the key 1 at the same time has established acircuit which extends from the lever 1 through the contact post 50,Iconductor 51, coil 52, conductor 53, coil 42, conductor 54, conductor24, battery 11, conductor 12, springs 13 and 14, conductor 15, conductor16, to the lever 1. Thus the energization of the relay 42 has moved thestep-by-step wheel one notch so that the arm 36 engages the contact 37.

Now should the same voter without leaving the booth subsequently depressbutton 2, then a second impulse would pass through the coil 42, therebymoving the step-bystep element 32 another notch, thus bringing the arm36 into circuit connection with the contact 38. Under these conditions acircuit is established from the negative terminal of battery 1l by wayof conductor 24, conductor 55, coil 49, conductor 56, conductor 57,contact 38, arm 36, conductor 58, conductor 15, switches 13 and 14,conductor 12, to the positive terminal of the battery 11. It will beseen that under these conditions an impulse passes through the coil 49,thereby attracting its armature 46 to restore the element 32 to itsstarting position and at the same time break the circuit between thesprings 21 and 22. Immediately the circuit between the springs 21 and 22is broken the circuit through either' selected relay 3 or 4 (whose.locking circuit extends by way of conductor 20) is broken and anyselected relay is restored to normal. Thus a faulty manipulation on thepart of the voter restores all parts to their initial position, at thesame time, of course, extinguishing any illuminated lamp 18 or 59 andapprising the voter that no counting mechanism is in a receptivecondition.

It will of course be understood that if it be desired, for instance, toselect two candidates (possibly aldermen) out of a total number .greaterthan two, then the conductor 57 would be connected with any appropria-te contact associated with the arm 36 so that the restoration doesnot take place until after the designated number have been voted for. Itwill be seen also that in this manner additional sections similar to theone herein illustrated can be added to accommodate other groups ofcandidates. 1 provide certain mechanism consisting of the relay 52 andassociated parts by which a further faulty actuation is prevented. Ifthis relay 52 and its parts were not installed, it might be possible forinstance to press button 1 and hold it depressed while pressingsucceeding buttons such as button 2. By holding the button 1 depressed,of course, only one impulse passes through the coil 42 and thestep-by-step element would move only one notch no matter how many keysin the same section were subsequently depressed. This would defeat thepurpose of the machine and to avoid such a contingency the relay 52 andits associated parts are provided. This relay 52 is so arranged thatwhen one key l is depressed, a certain amount of current passes throughthis relay 52 governed by the resistance 60. This amount of current isnot suliicient to actuatethe relay 52. Now should a second key 2 bedepressed however, then additional current traverses the relay 52suiicient to operate it and thereby attract its armature 61, theoperation of the key 2 including the resistance'63. The attraction ofthe armature 61 establishes a circuit from the terminal oly the battery11 through conductor 12,springs 13, 14, conductor 15, conductor 64,armature 61', contact62, conductor 65, conductor 56, coil 49, conductor55, conductor 24, to the battery 11. Thereupon` coil 49V is energizedwhich again permits a restoration of the element 32 to normal, and bythe disruption of the contact between the elements 21 and 22 causesrestoration oit' the relays 3 or 4 to their unoperated position. It willalso be noted that as the arm 30 moves the spring 13 it closes contactwith the contact point 31, thus establishing a circuit wliich can betraced'v from the positive terminal of the battery 11, through conductor12, spring 13, spring 31, conductor 66, magnet 49, conductor 55,conductor 24, to the negative terminal of the battery 11, thus alsorestoring the step-by-step mechanism to normal.

From what has been described, the nature of my invention will be clearand it willalso be understood that many modifications may beV madewithout departing from its spirit. It must be understood, of course,that what is here illustrated represents but one class of candidates andthat the complete voting machine would require the duplication of theapparatus here illustrated to make it complete.

Having however thus described one form which my invention may take, whatI claim ,A associated electromagnetic switching means being aras new anddesire to secure by Letters Pattuation of an individual switch elementin eXcess of a predetermined number to control the restoration of vallpreviously selected electromagnetic switching means.

2. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, and means operable independently`of said electromagnetic switching means by the actuation of anindividual switch element in eX- cess of a predetermined number tocontrol the restoration of all previously selected electromagneticswitching means.

3. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, means operable independently ofsaid electromagnetic switching means by the actuation of an individualswitch element in eX- cess of a predetermined number to control therestoration of all previously selected electromagnetic switching means,and an indicator for each individual switch element initially controlledby its associated switch element, and subsequently controlled by itsassociated electromagnetic means.

4. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, means operable independently ofsaid electromagnetic switching means by the actuation of an individualswitch element in eX- cess of a predetermined number to control therestoration of all previously selected electromagnetic switching means,and an indicator for each individual switch element initially controlledby its associated switch element, and subsequently controlled by itselectro-magnetic means, said ranged to set the circuit to theircorresponding register for subsequent closure.

5. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, means operable independently ofsai'd electromagnetic switching means by the actuation of an individualswitch element in eX- cess of a predetermined number to control therestoration of all previously selected electromagnetic switching means,an indicator for each individual switch element initially controlled byits associated switch element, and subsequently controlled by itsassociated electromagnetic means, said electromagnetic switching meansbeing arranged to set the circuit to their corresponding register forsubsequent closure, and a common register actuating switch adapted tocontrol the closure of the circuits through the selected register.

6. A voting system of the character described .having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, and step-by-step means operableindependently of said electromagnetic switching means by the actuationof yan individual switch element in excess of a predetermined number tocontrol the restoration of all previously selected electromagneticswitching means.

7. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, step-bystep means operableindependently of said electromagnetic switching means by the actuationof an individual switch element in excess of a predetermined number tocontrol the restoration of all previously selected electromagneticswitching means, and an indicator for each individual switch elementinitially controlled by its associated switch element, and subsequentlycontrolled by its associated electromagnetic means.

8. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, step-bystep means operableindependently of said electromagnetic switching means by the actuationof an individual switch element in excess of a predetermined number tocontrol the restoration of lall previously selected electromagneticswitching means, and an indicator for each individual switch elementinitially controlled by its associated switch element, and subsequentlycontrolled by its associated electro-magnetic means, saidelectromagnetic switching means being arranged to set the circuit totheir corresponding register for subsequent closure.

9. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switching devices, a register for each switchingdevice, electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of saidswitching devices and its associated register, and selectivelyresponsive means operable by the simultaneous actuation of more than apredetermined number of switching devices to control the restoration tonormal of all selected electromagnetic switching means.

10. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switching devices, a register for each switchingdevice, electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of saidswitching devices and its associated register, and means operableindependently of said electromagnetic switching means by thesimultaneous actuation of more than a predetermined number of switchingdevices to control the restoration to normal of all selectedelectromagnetic switching means.

l1. Avoting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switching devices, a register for each switchingdevice, electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of saidswitching devices and its associated register, selectively responsivemeans operable by the simultaneous actuation of more than apredetermined number of switching devices to control the restoration tonormal of all selected electromagnetic switching means, and an indicatorfor each individual switch element initially controlled by itsassociated switching device, and subsequently controlled by itsassociated electromagnetic means.

l2. A voting system of the character describedhaving a plurality ofactuable individual switching devices, a register for eaclr switchingdevice, electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of saidswitching devices and its associated register, selectively responsivemeans Operable by the simultaneous actuation of more than apredetermined number of switching devices to control the restoration tonormal of all selected electromagnetic switching means, and an indicatorfor each individual switch element, each electromagnetic switching meanscontrolling a circuit through its associated indicator.

18. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switching devices, a register for each switchingdevice, electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of saidswitching devices and its associated register, selectively responsivemeans operable by the simultaneous actuation of more than apredetermined.number of switching devices to control the restoration tonormal of all selected electromagnetic switching means, and an indicatorfor each individual switch element initially controlled by itsassociated switching device, and subsequently controlled by itsassociated electromagnetic means, said electromagnetic switching meansbeing arranged to set the circuit to their corresponding register forsubsequent closure.

1A. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switching devices, a register for each switchingdevice, electromagnetic switchingmeans interposed between each of saidswitching devices and its associated register, selectively responsivemeans operable by the simultaneous actuation of more than apredetermined number of switching devices to control the restoration tonormal of all selected electromagnetic switching means, an indicator foreach individual switch element initially controlled by its associatedswitching device, and subsequently controlled by its associatedelectromagnetic means, said electromagnetic switching means beingarranged to set the circuit to their corresponding register forsubsequent closure, and a common register actuating switch adapted tocontrol the closure of the circuits through the selected register.

15. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register lfor each switchelement, electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of saidswitch elements and its associated register, and means operable by theactuation of an individual switch element in excess of a predeterminednumber to control the restoration of all previously selectedelectromagnetic switching means and likewise prevent the actuation ofits associated electromag-l netic switching means, said electromagneticswitching means including a holding circuit.

16. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between 'each of said switchelements and its associated register, and means operable independentlyof said electromagnetic switching means by the actuation of anindividual switch element in excess of a predetermined number to controlthe restoration of all previously selected electromagnetic switchingmeans, said electromagnetic switching means including a holding circuit.

17. A voting system of the character described having a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, means operable by the actuation ofan individual switch element in excess of a predetermined number tocontrol the restoration of all previously selected electromagneticswitching means,y and selectively responsive means operable by thesimultaneous actuation of more than a given number of switch elements tocontrol the restoration of all selected electromagnetic switching means.

18. A voting system of the character describedhaving a plurality ofactuable individual switch elements, a register for each switch element,electromagnetic switching means interposed between each of said switchelements and its associated register, step-by-step means operable by theactuation of an individual switch element in eX- cess of a predeterminednumber to control the restoration of all previously selectedelectromagnetic switching means, and means operable by the simultaneousactuation of more than a given number of switch elements to control therestoration of all selected electromagnetic switching means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of March,A. D.,

- HARRY O. RUGH. Witnesses: A. LYDA JoNEs, HAZEL ANN JoNns.

Goxpies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

